Relationship between Plant Nutrient Elements and Yellow Color Formation in the Leaf Veins of Watermelon

While there is no yellowing in the leaf veins of some watermelons during the seedling stage, veins start to turn yellow after the plant starts to grow, and veins become more yellow as the plant grows. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this yellowing of leaf veins is related to plant nutrients. The study was carried out at the Alata Horticultural Research Institute in Mersin, Turkey, during the spring and summer growing seasons of 2016 and 2018. The S24 line with yellow veins and the Crimson Sweet variety were used as controls. Samples were taken from the leaves below and above the female flower during the female flower period and from the leaves below and above the fruit when the fruits reached the size of a grapefruit. Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), and Manganese (Mn) were examined in leaf analysis. When the places where the leaf samples were taken and the years were evaluated together, there was not a variety that came to the forefront in terms of N, P, K, Ca, Mn, and Zn. However, in general, Fe and Mn contents of the S24 line were found to be higher than the control. In line with these results, it is not possible to say that there is a relationship between the yellowing of leaf veins and plant nutrients.

Relationship between Plant Nutrient Elements and Yellow Color Formation in the Leaf Veins of Watermelon Keywords:

Plant nutrient elements , Watermelon , Yellow color leaf veins.